L.A. Going to the Dogs

Dogs are the Los Angeles answer to the Manhattan cat. The Big Apple is stacked with box-like studio apartments, occupied by lonely-but-thankful-to-not-have-any-more-crazy-roommate types; perfect for felines. Los Angeles has wide-open spaces and a population with an innate need to tan - dog heaven.

Being a dog owner myself, I'm thankful for the hiking trails and dog beaches Los Angeles has to offer. But it's out of this very town that a creepy dog fetish is sprouting. The hipster in me wants to say it's cool and ironic, except that it's actually happening.

See these links:

HotChicksWithDogswithBoners.com

and

HotChicksPickingUpDogShit.com

Autumn. Sigh.

East Coasters find a lot of things to complain about in Los Angeles, but on one subject they always remain mum: skipping harsh winters. Wintry holidays at home sound glorious in a Bing Crosby song, but in reality that icy air hurts as much as your annoying aunt in the reindeer sweater. Everyone has one and you know who I'm taking about. Cold is only really worth it if there's snow, and that I can get in Big Bear.

But I do miss autumn. The crisp air, the changing leaves and the smell of burning firewood. There's nothing like that electric atmosphere, promising good things to come; Halloween, chic fall wardrobe and the holidays.

They say that when you first move to Los Angeles the seasons don't seem to change, and that the longer you live here, the more you'll notice the subtleties. Thankfully it's true.

Believe it or not the temperature does drop. We have trees in our yard with actual leaves that change color and spin to the ground. In the concrete jungles of Hollywood and South Central, these subtleties are easy to miss. In our lush and unnaturally wooded neighborhood, you can catch a glimpse. Some of my neighbors were even gracious enough to plant Japanese maples, which turn a fiery red. They stack pumpkins on their porches and build fires at night, filling the evening air with the smell of home and hearth.

For any of you homesick for the Eastern seaboard, drive through the neighborhood streets north of Ventura in Studio City, or take a day trip to Big Bear. Before the snow falls, you'll see a rainbow of colors amidst the pines. For a quick fix, check out these lovely shots of my hometown neighborhood. This is in Virginia just outside of D.C.

Sigh.

If DJ AM and DJ Shadow had a baby...

...it would cry like this.



How come no one ever told me about Pretty Lights? And just how long has this been going on, people? They were at Coachella and everything.

I caught them at the West Beach Festival in Santa Barbara, and I was floored. As of now, you can dowload up to 64 FREE SONGS on their official website. What are you waiting for?

Grub - A Hub for those who Lub Good Food

Grub. Such a coarse word for the foodie paradise I am about to describe. Tucked away in a studio neighborhood, Grub doesn't need a big sign or heavy foot traffic to get bodies in the door. Quality comfort food and a serene setting pulls in devotees from all over the city. From importing blue cheese from Wisconsin to finding the thickest, crispiest bacon and putting it in practically everything, we love their food and it loves us back.

Me & the crew about to do some serious damage...

Their famous Hershey Bar sandwiches with bacon, a recipe from manager Melissa Fosse Dunne's (below) own mother, was just the beginning...

There was...

The After School Special: creamy tomato soup and a gooey, buttery grilled cheese sandwich

Potato chip cookies with chocolate chips

Rosemary steak sandwich with Gorgonzola & roasted potatoes...


Breakfast sandwich with French toast croissant bread and maple syrup...

And of course, the famous Hershey Bar & bacon sandwich!

For Those Who Love to Party

For those in the prime of their youth traipsing around Los Angeles playing the field, I know how you feel. Darting in and out of Social and Dolce, you're still wrinkle-free and trendy on the outside, but harbor a dark secret. A fear is buried deep within you, nudging you with a question.

And the question is this: This is fun and all, but they aren't all like this, are they?

The sad news is, most of them are. But with a self-esteem a stitch above self-loathing and a health insurance plan to cover potential mental health issues, you'll be able to pull through with, well, something. In the meantime, don't waste years fretting over those self-involved manorexics and ego maniacs. If you cannot enjoy conversation, try to tap into some other joy they might have to offer. And for God's sake, use Return My Pants. They say it's a site for lenders and borrowers but I must say, it's a great tool for those who like to party.

For the guys you ditched early due to signs of sociopathic behavior or monologues breaking down the virtues of different energy bars, remember to be nice when exiting. Because life in the fast lane almost ensures that your treasured belongings will be scattered across town. For example:

~ You left your Happiness DVD at a studio exec's house while trying to impress him with your art-house knowledge.

~ You left your magic La Perla push-up at Xavier's place, because you found out he got chin implants and scurried out too so fast.

~ Your sequined dress came without pockets, so he held onto your broken necklace that night at The Magic Castle.

...the possibilities are endless. Remember to end it amicably, keep track of where you left what at Return My Pants and know that to get it back you'll have to at least pay for one cocktail. Or if he's particularly scary, coffee.

The Grilled Cheese Movement

Perhaps it started with Campanile's Grilled Cheese Night on Thursdays years ago. This high-end restaurant (which would otherwise never serve the likes of grilled cheese in their gourmet menu) even claims to be the first to hype grilled cheese in Los Angeles. It was a hit with celebs like Reese Witherspoon and written up in all the glossies. Soon other restaurants followed, like Bodega Wine Bar in Santa Monica, making a high-end grilled cheese with brie and apples. I liked it, but it wasn't classic enough to bring on childhood nostalgia. I think the cheese needs to be yellow-orange for me to get that warm fuzzy feeling.

Then came the Grilled Cheese Truck which is known to have Twitter stalkers all over Los Angeles and lines around the block. This month, waiters at the OK! Magazine party were passing around mini grilled cheese sandwiches on silver platters.

But now, people are going beyond just grilled cheese. They are offering the whole package. Grub in Hollywood is known for making comfort food chic, and they came up with the After School Special; a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Their buttery sandwich and all-natural soup laced with tarragon made me feel all cuddly.

So far, my very favorite grilled cheese with tomato soup combo (and there are plenty of places to choose from now) is at The Bowery on Sunset in Hollywood. While known for their craft beers and burgers, their crisp and gooey grilled cheese sandwich is pure comfort. And their tomato soup is creamy like a bisque, topped with a piece of toasted baguette smothered in herbed goat cheese. It's enough to make me wish it were raining in our city of eternal sunshine.

The Downtown L.A. Film Festival

The Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival held a gala at The Alexandria Hotel, circa 1906. While beautiful in its stained glass and crown molding glory, the owners try to hide the state of semi-dilapidation with paint jobs. The effect is very Ms. Havisham's mansion from Great Expectations. For this native East-Coaster, it brought back feelings of nostalgia. Rushing in were memories of my college days in Richmond, VA, where we all lived in once-grand homes (some dating back to the Civil War) that were broken into smaller units. It rekindled my longing for great architecture. Half-lit chandeliers, shattered mirrors and all.

The "gala" itself was boring and felt like a fundraiser. Call me a snob, but one doesn't call it a gala with paper plates and cheap Smart and Final desserts cut into 2-inch servings....at a cost. It was filled with hipsters trying to out-weird one another via hair and clothing, and a band that played...well, it wasn't music.

We escaped and wandered around darkened service hallways and opened doors into forbidden and forgotten ballrooms. The beauty of the place was intoxicating, and we had a blast exploring....until chased down and escorted out by security.

Enjoy the photos!

Above: the original Hollywood Babylon crew; Fatty Arbuckle, Rudolph Valentino, Poli Negra, etc.